Gobiidae
Lachner's dwarfgoby
Sueviota lachneri
FISH SPECIES
Flat-bodied Fish
Compare fish with laterally compressed, dorsoventrally depressed or asymmetrical body plans across habitats.
FISH ATLAS / FIELD GUIDEFlat FishIN THIS CHAPTER01 / Characteristics02 / Lifestyle03 / Species04 / Field notes
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01 / NATURAL HISTORY
Characteristics
Flattened body forms represent two distinct evolutionary paths: laterally compressed forms engineered for agility in narrow vertical spaces, and dorsoventrally depressed or asymmetrical forms specialized for living flush against the ocean floor.
- 01Laterally compressed maneuvering
- 02Dorsoventrally flattened resting
- 03Benthic sediment concealment
02 / LIFESTYLE
Lifestyle
Laterally compressed fishes like butterflyfishes and batfishes orient vertically to dart through intricate reef branches, using broad median fins to execute instantaneous, low-radius pivot turns. In stark contrast, depressed rays and asymmetrical flatfishes bury beneath sediment with only elevated eyes exposed, remaining completely motionless until striking passing prey from underneath.
OBSERVATION INDEX
- Zero-radius turns in structural cover
- Sediment concealment with raised eyes
- Undulatory pectoral propulsion on bottoms
03 / SPECIES
Representative species
Discover representative species illustrating the ecological diversity, morphologies and adaptations of this group.
Lachner's dwarfgoby
Gobiidae
Lachner's shrimpgoby
Myersina lachneri
Gobiidae
Lacustrine goby
Gobiopterus lacustris
Eleotridae
Ladder gudgeon
Bostrychus scalaris
Elopidae
ladyfish
Elops saurus
Cichlidae
Lake Chala tilapia
Oreochromis hunteri
Cichlidae
Lake Rukwa tilapia
Oreochromis rukwaensis
Cyprinidae
Lanka blue laubuka
Laubuka lankensis
Gobiidae
Lantana pygmygoby
Trimma lantana
Dorosomatidae
Laotian shad
Tenualosa thibaudeaui
Sciaenidae
Large scale lunate caudal fin croaker
Atractoscion macrolepis
Cyprinidae
Large scale scraper
Capoeta aculeata
Gobiidae
large whip goby
Bryaninops amplus
Gempylidae
Large-eyed sackfish
Neoepinnula minetomai
Monacanthidae
Large-scaled leatherjacket
Cantheschenia grandisquamis
Bothidae
Largescale dwarf flounder
Engyprosopon macrolepis
Pleuronectidae
Largescale flounder
Ammotretis macrolepis
Bothidae
Largescale Flounder
Engyprosopon multisquama
Bothidae
Largescale Flounder
Psettina tosana
Acestrorhamphidae
Largespot tetra
Astyanax orthodus
Pristidae
largetooth sawfish
Pristis microdon
Apogonidae
largetoothed cardinalfish
Cheilodipterus macrodon
Labridae
Latent slingjaw wrasse
Epibulus brevis
Labridae
Latigo fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus briangreenei
04 / FIELD NOTES
A closer look
What is the evolutionary difference between a ray and a flounder?
A ray is a cartilaginous fish flattened from top to bottom (dorsoventrally depressed) with eyes on top and gill slits on the underside; a flounder is a bony fish that lies on its side, whose eye migrates during larval development to make the body asymmetrical.
Why do disk-shaped fish like angelfish and discus have tall bodies?
A laterally compressed disc shape provides high vertical stability and exceptional turning agility, allowing fish to twist into narrow vertical crevices and maneuver between tangled roots or coral branches without losing control.